Electric drive for vehicles



' Pr 6,1935. w. c. MOORE EAL 1,997,974

ELECTRIC DRIVE FOR VEHICLES Filed June 26, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1i1EIIIlllllllllllllllflllllllllllllllI= I April 1935. w. c. MOORE El AL1,997,974

ELECTRIC DRIVE FOR VEHICLES Filed June 26, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 14fformgy Patented Apr. 16, 1935 I 1 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICDRIVE FOR VEHICLES William C. Moore and Andy E. Nolan, Portland, Oreg.

Application June 26, 1931, Serial No. 547,033

3 Claims. (01. 172-287) Our invention is primarily adapted for use whichis hereinafter shown with reference to the upon automotive vehicles andis primarily adaptdrawings which accompany and form a part of ed for useupon automobiles, motor trucks, buses, this specification. stages andcertain classes of tractors. In the drawings:

, It is primarily adapted for use upon motor ve- Fig. 1 is a vertical,sectional view of one of the hicles wherein four wheel drives aredisposed. wheels of the vehicle. We place within each wheel of thevehicle, upon Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a which ourdevice is attached, a complete electric part of the wheel structure, thesame primarily prime mover, the armature element of which is comprisingthe inner web of the wheel and the adapted for being rotated. The fieldelement also internal gear that is secured thereto. 10 is adapted forrotation, the necessary brushes Fig. 3 is an outside viewof a spider hubthat is and other incidentals being secured to a stationadapted forbeing fixedly and removably secured ary mounting ,placed upon thespindle of the to the spindle of the wheel, shown removed from wheel tofacilitate the action. We place a conthe wheel.

trol at any suitable location upon the vehicle, Fig. 4 is a side view ofthe mechanism illustratconvenient to the operator thereof, the controled in Fig. 3. being adapted for regulating electric current for Fig. 5is a front view, partially in section of driving each wheel, in thedesired direction of the wheel armature and hub shown removed fromrotation. the wheel.

One of the objects of our invention is to uni- Fig. 6 is a front view,partially in section of 20 formly distribute the driving torque uponeach the outside web of the wheel and to the inside of wheel of thevehicle to provide uniform traction. which the motor field is secured.

A further object of our invention consists in Fig. '7 is an outside viewof the wheel with a part providing a prime mover, in each wheel of theof the various casings broken away to show the vehicle, that is adaptedfor developing the necescoacting parts comprising the wheel. 25 sarytorque for driving each wheel, the power I Fig. 8 is a sectional, endview of the assembled being secured from a prime mover mounted uponwheel, taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 1, looking in the the vehicle from astorage battery, or from a direction indicated, and illustrating thegear drive source of electric supply disposed outside of the assembly ofthe wheel.

vehicle, as from atrolley. Fig. 9 is a front view of the spindle anddisc 30 Through the use of our new and improved deshown removed from theaxle. vice the distribution of the driving energy is de- Fig. 10 is afragmentary, sectional end view of livered to all of the four wheels.This eliminates the brush control mechanism illustrated in Fig. much ofthe normal wear and tear of the tires 1, being taken on line l0l0 ofFig. 1, looking in that is encountered where a pair of driving wheelsthe direction indicated.

are being used, and where the total of the'driving Fig. 11 is afragmentary, sectional side view of energy is to be absorbed by thetires of the two the mechanism illustratedinFig. 10, taken on linewheels. llll of Fig. 10, looking in the direction indi- A still furtherobject of our invention consists cated.

40 in providing a vehicle through the use of which Fig. 12 is a top,plan view, partially in section 40 lighter tires may be used upon thedriving wheels. of the collector ring disposed within the wheel as- Astill further object of our invention consists 881 19 in providing avehicle that may be driven at high- Like reference characters refer tolik parts er speeds than at present obtain. throughout the severalviews.

A still further object of our invention consists the P p Of thisdescription W v 45 i providing it m rotating mechanisms t t sumed thewheel to be a front wheel and that the will act automatically as brakingmeans when the same is secured to the front axle 8. A spindle 9 weightof the vehicle tends to drive them, and to is disposed within the axlehead Ill and is secured generate electric current that may be stored inthereto by a spindle bolt II. The spindle has the battery. a closureplate l2 formed integral therewith, that 5o With these and incidentalobjects in view, the acts as a closure for the internal brakecompartinvention consists in certain novel features of ment of thewheel. construction and combination of parts, the es- Referring to Fig.1, a flange l3 forms the insential elements of which are set forth inthe her surface of the wheel and an internal brake appended claims, anda preferred embodiment of compartment is disposed within the centralpor- 55 tion of the flange member l3. A suitable brake lining I4 isremovably secured to the outer surface of an internal expanding brakemember l5, and is adapted to frictionally engage the drum portion l6 ofthe wheel. A huh I! forms the central portion of the flange l3.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a spider hub I8 is fixedly positioned uponthe shoulder l9 of the spindle as illustrated in Fig. 9. The same may besecured thereto as by being. positioned thereupon and for being alsokeyed thereupon. A flange 20 outwardly extends from the hub and gearsupporting pins 2|, here shown as three in number, outwardly extend fromthe flange 20.

An anti-friction bearing 22 is disposed between the outer surface -ofthe hub l8 and the inner surface of the hub l1, and forms a bearingtherebetween. A felt washer 23 is disposed between the spindle and theinner surface of the hub H to maintain a leak proof connection betweenthe spindle and the flanged inner surface I 3 comprising one of thewheel housings. An internal gear 24 is removably secured to the innerflange member l3 and is secured thereto as through the use of fasteningbolts 25.

A sun pinion 26, as illustrated in Fig. 8, is fixedly positioned uponthe hub 26A and a plurality of pinions 21, that are mounted upon thesupporting pins 2| coact with the sun pinion 26 and the internal gear24, and rotation is imparted'to the internal gear 24 by the rotation ofthe respective gear members. A wheel and motor housing 28, illustratedin Fig. 6, is placeable about the wheel assembly and an electric field29 is mounted upon the inner surface of the same.

A flange 3D isadapted to precisely fit the flange 3| and ,to secure theinner and outer wheel housings together. The flanges are securedtogether by any suitable fastening means, as through the use 35 issecured to the outer housing and the brushes 36 are positioned withinthe brush holder and are adapted to engage the commutator 36A. A secondbrush holder 31 is also formed upon the inner end of the brush holderand brushes 38 are positioned therein and are adapted to engage thecollector ring 39.

We prefer, as the prime mover for the generating of the electriccurrent, an internal combustion engine, but we do not wish .to belimited to internal combustion engines as other prime movers may beused. The electric current may be directly secured from trolley wires,or from a storage battery with equal facility. A distributor and controlbox is placed conveniently within the vehicle and is adapted for beingmanipulated by the operator of the vehicle. A storage battery is alsocarried upon the vehicle. The current, to

. be delivered into the wheel is conducted through The control isdisposed within the electric circuits for predetermining the directionof rotation of the drive within the wheels and of the wheels. Theelectric current is conducted to the collector rings and into therespective brushes through the circuits 4! and 48 that conduct thecurrent to the field 29.

The outer end of the hollow spindle is threaded as illustrated at 49 andthe collector brush block 50 is fixedly positioned upon that portion ofthe hollow spindle as illustrated at 5! and its rotation is preventedthrough the use of a spline 52, or through any other suitable medium.The entire assembly is maintained upon the spindle by a locking nut 53.A closure plate, or hub cap 54, maintains the entire wheel assembly in adust proof condition.

While the form of mechanism herein shown and described is admirablyadapted to fulfill the objects primarily stated, it is to be understoodthat it is not intended to confine the invention to the one form ofembodiment herein shown and described, as it is susceptible ofembodiment in k various forms, all coming within the scope of the claimswhich follow.

What we claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, in combination with an axle, ahollow spindle secured to the axle by a spindle bolt, a flanged spiderhub removably secured to the spindle, a closure plate rotatably mountedupon the spider hub and having a braking surface disposed integraltherewith, said closure plate having a frusto-conical peripheral flangedisposed about its major diameter, supporting pins outwardly extendingfrom the flange of the spider hub, pinions disposed upon the supportingpins, an internal gear removably fixed to said closure plate and adaptedto coact with said pinions, a housing forming a wheel rim adapted toreceive traction means and having a frusto-conical peripheral flangedisposed about an end of its cylindrical body and adapted to fixedlyengage the frusto-conical peripheral flange of the closure plate, anelectric motor field element secured to the inner periphery of thehousing, a flanged quill rotatably mounted upon said spindle, anelectric motor armature element mounted upon the flange of said quilland positioned in operative alignment with said field element, a sungear fixed to said quill and coacting with said pinions, mutuallyinsulated collector rings mounted upon said quill, a collector brushblock fixed to said spindle, a commutator fixed to said armatureelement, conductor means fixed to said housing and connecting thearmature elementcircuit with the corresponding collector ring, conductormeans fixed to said housing and connecting the field element circuitswith their corresponding collector rings, expansible brake meansmanipulatively coacting with said braking surface, a closure plateremovably attached to said housing and shrouding both said conductormeans, electric conductors disposed through said hollow spindleconnecting a source of electric energy with said collector brush block.4

2. In a device of the class described, in combination with an axlehaving a hollow spindle, a flanged spider hub removably secured to thespindle, a closure plate rotatably mounted upon the spider hub andhaving a braking surface disposed integral therewith, said closure platehaving a frusto-conical peripheral flange disposed about its majordiameter, supporting pins outwardly extending from the flange of thespider hub, pinions disposed upon the supporting pins, an internal gearremovably flxed to said closure plate and adapted to coact with saidpinions, a housing forming a wheel rim adapted to receive traction meansand having a trusto-conical peripheral flange disposed about an end oiits cylindrical body and adapted to flxedly engage the irusto-conicalperipheral flange o! the closure plate, an electric motor fleld elementsecured to the inner periphery of the housing, a flanged quill rotatablymounted upon said spindle, an electric motor armature element mountedupon the flange of said quill and positioned in operative alignment withsaid field element, a sun gear fixed to said quill and coacting withsaid pinions, mutually insulated collector rings mounted upon saidquill, a collector brush block fixed to said spindle, a commutator fixedto said armature element, conductor means flxed to said housing andconnecting the armature element circuit with the corresponding collectorring, conductor means flxed to said housing and connecting the fleldelement circuits with their corresponding collector rings, expansiblebrake means manipulatively coacting with said braking suriace, a closureplate removably attached to said housing and shrouding both saidconductor means, electric conductors disposed through said hollowspindle connecting a source of electric energy with said collector brushblock.

3. In a device the class described, the combination 0! a hollow spindle,is flanged spider hub secured thereto, a closure plate rotatable aboutsaid spindle, an internal gear mounted upon said closure plate, aplurality of pinions mounted upon said flanged spider hub and meetingwith said internal gear, a flanged quill rotatahly mounted upon saidspindle, a sun gear mounted upon said quill and coacting with saidpinions, a housing rotatably mounted upon said quill and removably fixedat its outer periphery to said closure plate, and adapted to receivetraction means, an electric motor fleld element mounted upon the innerperipheral suriace of said housing, an electric motor armature elementmounted upon the flange of said quill, conductors connected with asource of electric energy disposed within said hollow spindle, and meansoperatively connecting said electric conductors with the said electricmotor armature element and held element.

WILLIAM C. MOORE. ANDY E. NOLAN.

